Did you know that currently Thailand is in the process of constructing the 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan – Bolikhamxay) with the cooperation of the Thai government and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)? The project is a bridge crossing the Mekong River from Mueang Bueng Kan district, Bueng Kan province, connecting to National Highway No. 13 at Ban Kluai, Pakxan city, Bolikhamxay district, Lao PDR. This aligns with the Lao PDR's road development plan to construct a bypass east of Pakxan city.
The project is a four-lane highway, each lane being 3.50 meters wide with a 2.50 meters wide shoulder within a 60-meter route area. The Thai side of the road is 12.13 kilometers long, and the Lao side of the road is 2.86 kilometers long. The bridge across the Mekong River is designed as a pre-stressed concrete box girder bridge with two lanes, shoulders, and sidewalks. The length of the Mekong River crossing segment is 810 meters, and the bridge inclines on both sides make the total bridge length 1,350 meters. There are two control booths on both sides of the border, and a traffic direction swap point is located on the Lao side.
The construction will take 36 months with a budget of around 4 billion baht. The Lao side will bear a responsibility of 1.3 billion baht, obtained through a loan from Thailand's Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA). The construction is expected to be completed within 2024.
In addition, this project is a part of the highway network development connecting with neighboring countries under the framework of economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya– Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) among neighboring countries Cambodia – Lao PDR – Myanmar – Thailand – Vietnam. It is a project under the strategy of developing competitive capabilities of the provinces in the upper Northeast region, as well as the development strategy for Bueng Kan province and its neighboring provinces.
Upon completion, the 5th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is expected to spur the economic development of border areas in the Bueng Kan province and the Bolikhamxay district, transforming them into vital commercial gateways. This will contribute to the economic expansion and bilateral trade and investment between Thailand and Lao PDR, facilitating smoother transportation of goods from Thailand to Southern China, especially rubber, a key economic crop of Bueng Kan province. Moreover, it will enable more efficient transportation of goods from the central region of Lao PDR to Thailand's deep-sea port at Laem Chabang for onward sea export to other regions.
In addition to this, Thailand and Lao PDR are collaborating on another project, the construction of the 6th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Ubon Ratchathani – Salavan), connecting Natan district in Ubon Ratchathani province with the city of Salavan in Lao PDR. The project is backed by a fund of 4.765 billion baht.
The project encompasses a 1,607-meter-long structure with the bridge spanning 1,020 meters. The bridge design includes two lanes for both directions, an arc form, and descending roads from the bridge - 517 meters on the Thai side and 70 meters on the Lao side. It will link National Highway No. 2112 in Natan district (Thailand) with National Highway No. 13 in Salavan (Lao PDR). The Thai side will have 4.325 kilometers of four-lane roads, and the Lao side will have 17.509 kilometers of two-lane roads. There will be Border Control Facilities (BCF) on both the Thai and Lao sides, with a traffic direction change point located on the Thai side.
Ubon Ratchathani province serves as a hub for tourism, commerce, investment, agriculture, and transportation in Southern Isan and Central Indochina, playing a significant role in entering the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The goal is to unify into a single market and production base with free movement of goods, services, investment, capital, and skilled labor.
This project is expected to streamline the export of goods from Thailand to Salavan, Lao PDR, making it faster and more convenient compared to the current transportation via boat through the border checkpoint at Ban Pak Saeng, Phalan sub-district, Natan district, Ubon Ratchathani province.
In conclusion, the initiative will enhance bilateral economic development and efficient transportation of goods, reducing transportation costs and expanding the transport network towards Danang Port, Vietnam, and China. This will make travel between Ubon Ratchathani province and Salavan city more time and cost-efficient.
Source: Office of the Prime Minister, Government House, Ubon Ratchathani Chamber of Commerce
Tel. +66 2280 9000
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